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Brand, Max, 1892-1944

"The Seventh Man"

They went
out sidling, and left the rooms in quiet. Then Billy took up the phone.
"Pete Glass is dead," he was saying a moment later to the owner of the
general merchandise store at St. Vincent. "Barry came in this morning and
shot him. The boys have run him east to the Morgan Hills. Johnny, listen
hard and shut up. You got half an hour to turn out every man in your town.
Ride south till you get in the hills on a bee-line east of where Tucker
Creek runs into the old Asper. D'ye hear? Then keep your eyes peeled to
the east, and watch for a man on a black hoss ridin' hard, because Barry is
sure as hell goin' to double back out of the Morgan Hills and come west
like a scairt coyote. The posse will be behind him, but they most like be a
hell of a ways to the bad. Johnny, everything hangs on your turnin' Barry
back. And have fifteen fresh hosses, the best St. Vincent has, so that the
boys in the posse can climb on 'em and ride hell-bent for Wago. Johnny, if
we get him started north he's dead--and if you turn him like I say I'll
see that you come in on the reward.


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